A TEENAGER from Houghton near Carlisle who has admitted driving dangerously showed a “deliberate disregard for the safety of others,” a court heard.

During a brief hearing at the city’s Cub Thomas Mahon, 19, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously on July 31 while travelling in a Mitsubishi Shogun Sport on the B5299 while he was being pursued by police.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, prosecutor George Shelley said the defendant committed the offence while he was being pursued by an unmarked police car which was clearly displaying its blue lights and operating its siren.

The prosecutor said: "There was prolonged bad driving which involved a deliberate disregard for others while being pursued by the police.”

When he was interviewed by the police, the teenager, of The Green, Houghton, said he was unaware that it was a police car pursuing him and had not seen the blue flashing lights on the unmarked car.

“The standard of driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver,” said Mr Shelley, adding that the teenager had no previous convictions.

Magistrates said they needed a background pre-sentence report before passing sentence on Mahon but they warned the defendant that they may send the case to the crown court for sentencing if they decided their powers are not sufficient

Defence lawyer Lucy Redshaw said the teenager was aware he faced a driving  ban but she asked that he not be made the subject of an interim driving ban so that he could wind down the landscaping business he had recently set up.

The business required him to drive all over the Northeast and he wanted to complete outstanding work. There was nobody else in the business who was qualified to driver, said the lawyer.

“He’s apologetic for his actions,” said Miss Redshaw, explaining that the defendant had been a Christian gathering and was giving a lift to two girls who were also in the car.

The lawyer added: “He’s a very nervous young man who understands that a prison sentence can follow and he’s keen to do whatever he can to impress the court and avoid a lengthy ban.”

The magistrates agreed to not impose an interim driving ban so that the defendant can wind down his business. He was granted bail and told that magistrates will rule on his case at a hearing on September 12. Guidelines suggest the offence has a potential sentence staring point of 18-months custody.

But that term would be reduced by a guilty plea and any mitigating factors.